By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
A former Commissioner of Water Resources in Kaduna State, Edward Percy Masha on Sunday, emerged the new state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Masha, who is also a one time Special Assistant to two ex-Ministers of Finance and Aviation, Felix Hassan Hyat, polled 2,123 votes to defeat his main challenger, Comrade Danjuma Bello Sarki with 258 votes, while former three times Commissioner of Information, Saidu Adamu was elected Secretary unopposed.
Godiya Ayuba Lolo, emerged the State Women Leader, having scored 2,102 votes to defeat Angel Adamu who got 300 votes, while former House of Assembly member, Maria Dogo polled 1,259 votes to emerge the state Publicity Secretary as against her main opponent, Nuhu Dogo Makama who got 524 votes.
The state returning officer, Bar. Tanko Beiji, who announced the results early Sunday morning at the Kaduna International Trade Fair Complex, charged both winners and losers in the contest to have the party as the centre of their motivation to serve and not their respective ambitions to the detriment of the party.
In his brief remarks shortly after he was declared winner, Edward Masha, promised inclusive leadership, noting that he would reach out to aggrieved co-contestants towards a purposeful reconciliation and unification of the party in line with its quest to take over power in 2027.
Also speaking, the outgoing Chairman, Felix Hassan Hyat, called on party faithful to give the new leadership maximum support for the party to return back to winning ways, stressing that all must work towards consolidating previous victory of three Senators, 10 House of Representatives seats and 13 House of Assembly Members in next month – October 19 Local Government elections.
The much talked Kaduna PDP State Congress had seven positions keenly contested for, while the remaining positions were affirmed unopposed.
The immediate past Youth Leader, Aliyu Bello returned as Financial Secretary, Barr. Khalid Khalid emerged the new Legal Adviser, among other positions.